Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
December 27, 2017

What was supposed to a joyous Christmas reunion for three siblings turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy with the shooting death on Boxing Day of 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne of Lakes Close, Eden Lodge, St Michael.

Tavon, his elder sister Tanella, and his younger brother, who was not named, had not spent much time together since their mother died about 15 years ago.

The late Tavon Alleyne met his death directly in front of this house.From left, the late Tavon Alleyne with siblings Tanella Alleyne and Tyreese Alleyne in happier times.

The three – cousins of Barbadian superstar Rihanna – moved to Eden Lodge six months ago in the hope of making up for lost time after many years of separation.

However, hours after spending some time with Rihanna on Christmas Day, Tavon became the year’s 30th murder victim after he was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant while walking in the vicinity of his home.

The circumstances surrounding his killing are unclear, but police said the shooting occurred at approximately 7 p.m., and the shooter fled the scene. Alleyne was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a private vehicle but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

“This just dampened our Christmas season because this was our first Christmas together,” a dejected Tanella told Barbados TODAY.

“On Christmas morning after he cleaned the house he told me we should pray because he knew how we come up. We lost our mother when I was seven years old and it was not easy coming up as children because we were always separated. So I guess he was so thankful that we finally got the opportunity to live as one.”

The mournful sister would not discuss their mother’s death, nor that of their sister in 2002.

However, she said her brother had often suffered from depression as he became overwhelmed by the loss of loved ones. In fact, she said, Tavon carried the guilt of their sister’s death.

“He always felt like he was to blame for my sister’s death because he was supposed to be the man and that he was not securing everybody enough. He felt as though it was his job to protect his mother’s children,” an emotional Tanella explained.

The 22-year-old sister had earlier shared on social media a picture of Tavon in a hospital bed, stating: “I never thought the day would come that I would have to bury you my love, omggg!!! this was our first Christmas together we clean, we decorate and everything!! Tavon I know you was trying to be a better person!! I loveee you soooo muchhhhhhhhh brother omg!”

She told Barbados TODAY that she heard the shots that took her brother’s life, but initially thought someone was banging on galvanize, until a neighbour gave her the tragic news.

Tanella said she was also concerned about her younger brother, who was the one who discovered his bullet-ridden brother on the ground after hearing the gunshots, and who saw Tavon dying a painful death on the way to the hospital.

“My little brother ran outside when he heard the shots because he was across by his girlfriend’s house and he saw Tavon on the ground and put him in the car [and accompanied him to the hospital],” she said.

“Right now he does not want to speak to anybody, but I know that the image must be troubling him.”

In a desperate search for answers Tanella has been trying to figure out who might have wanted her brother dead.

In the end, she concluded that “it had to be a case of mistaken identity” because she was not aware that her brother had any enemies.

“As far as I know Tavon had no enemies and as I as told other people, boys will be boys. He is not like my other brother; if Tavon has something to tell you he will tell you. He is not the type of person that will attack you. I know this is some kind of mistake because he and nobody in Eden Lodge had no problems.

“He used to walk around to his cousins that live further down the road. So this just comes as a shock to me,” she said, revealing that on the fateful night Tavon was on his way to visit a friend, having just returned from a party cruise.

The 22-year-old also said she had since been in touch Rihanna, whose given name is Robyn Fenty, and that the Barbadian star is devastated by the news.

“She is in shock because she don’t see him very often, but she saw him and hugged him on Christmas Day only to later realize that would be the last time that they would meet. She is not taking it good at all. She told me that she is thinking about my brother and me the most,” Tanella said.

The killing gained international attention after a shattered Rihanna paid tribute to Tavon on Instagram, sharing several photos with him.

The late Tavon Alleyne died mere hours after spending some time with his superstar cousin Rihanna.

“Can’t believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms,” she wrote last night.

“Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man . . . #endgunviolence.”

She posted on Instagram Stories a black background with Tavon’s handle, @merka_95, along with: “rest up lil cuz.” She also shared emojis of praying hands, a crying face and a broken heart, and an angel.

Condolence to family and May he Rest In Peace. What gets me is Barbados is not a manufacture of guns, it’s also not like the USA where you can walk into your local Walmart or gun store and buy a gun, yet there’s is a massive influx of guns flowing into the country. Now to take it a step
further, here the other day you had some of our fellow Bajans on here being brass and sassy about Barbados voting against Trump
in the UN professing how the US protect our
waters and borders, well I like some these same die hard defenders to answer the question- if the US protecting a small Island
like Barbados waters and Borders and wunna
against Wunna own ppl, how the hell so much guns and drugs still flowing into the country like never before st a rate never
before seen? Wanna better ask wanna self
are wanna being protected and defended or sabatoge? Wunna better wake up, dem same guns flowing in from the very same country
Wunna think protecting wunna. Better also
look at the history of the same country and how dem have destroyed their own black men and women- through the war on drugs
and guns and the mass incarceration of the
black population ,then turn around and see it’s the same blueprint the black youth in Barbados and some de older ones following.
When half the black population of Barbados
either in jail or dead, wanna won’t be a majority anymore but a minority being control and back where Wunns started with
new masters. Keep doing down the rabbit
hole of destruction and see where Wunna end up 10 years from now, with a new master

Condolence to family and May he Rest In Peace. What gets me is Barbados is not a manufacture of guns, it’s also not like the USA where you can walk into your local Walmart or gun store and buy a gun, yet there’s is a massive influx of guns flowing into the country. Now to take it a step
further, here the other day you had some of our fellow Bajans on here being brass and sassy about Barbados voting against Trump
in the UN professing how the US protect our
waters and borders, well I like some these same die hard defenders to answer the question- if the US protecting a small Island
like Barbados waters and Borders and wunna
against Wunna own ppl, how the hell so much guns and drugs still flowing into the country like never before st a rate never
before seen? Wanna better ask wanna self
are wanna being protected and defended or sabatoge? Wunna better wake up, dem same guns flowing in from the very same country
Wunna think protecting wunna. Better also
look at the history of the same country and how dem have destroyed their own black men and women- through the war on drugs
and guns and the mass incarceration of the
black population ,then turn around and see it’s the same blueprint the black youth in Barbados and some de older ones following.
When half the black population of Barbados
either in jail or dead, wanna won’t be a majority anymore but a minority being control and back where Wunns started with
new masters. Keep doing down the rabbit
hole of destruction and see where Wunna end up 10 years from now, with a new master

Bajans must wake up stop living in denial , yes blacks are killing blacks all over the world , but we should be concern about Barbados ….
If blacks were shooting at whites this matter would have come to an end easy and quick, but because its black on black our politicians in Barbados carry no real concern unless it effects them, so long the 1%ers is okay all is well ………………………….

Bajans must wake up stop living in denial , yes blacks are killing blacks all over the world , but we should be concern about Barbados ….
If blacks were shooting at whites this matter would have come to an end easy and quick, but because its black on black our politicians in Barbados carry no real concern unless it effects them, so long the 1%ers is okay all is well ………………………….

War on drugs
War on terror
War on medicines
War on black men/women/families
War on guns
War on education
War on religion
War on music
War on disfranchisement.
War on self hate and lack of brotherly love
And the shields are down.

War on drugs
War on terror
War on medicines
War on black men/women/families
War on guns
War on education
War on religion
War on music
War on disfranchisement.
War on self hate and lack of brotherly love
And the shields are down.

Embassies are untouchable soils and have diplomatic immunity. To tell you my vision; if our Coast Guard, Royal Barbados Marine Police and Customs Enforcement Officers are exercising 101% dilligence on the subject of illicit drug and firearms distribution within our island’s laws duristictions then those with immunity are the very ones we as a nation should inspect with narrow eye sight. Our Commissioner of Police and Minister of Public Safety along with the Minister of National Security now has to; with profound measures look at all foreign identities posted within our Economic Zone and those resident on terra firma. I formally served with South Com, NATO and OAS security operations during the Cold war era.

Embassies are untouchable soils and have diplomatic immunity. To tell you my vision; if our Coast Guard, Royal Barbados Marine Police and Customs Enforcement Officers are exercising 101% dilligence on the subject of illicit drug and firearms distribution within our island’s laws duristictions then those with immunity are the very ones we as a nation should inspect with narrow eye sight. Our Commissioner of Police and Minister of Public Safety along with the Minister of National Security now has to; with profound measures look at all foreign identities posted within our Economic Zone and those resident on terra firma. I formally served with South Com, NATO and OAS security operations during the Cold war era.

I read this article in the British press this morning and so will many UK citizens who might have been thinking of having a holiday in Barbados because of it’s historical safety past record. They might think twice now. Barbados is losing safety record. The authorities must act fast and get these guns off the streets. My son and his family are coming to holiday in Barbados next year and I am concerned for their safety.

I read this article in the British press this morning and so will many UK citizens who might have been thinking of having a holiday in Barbados because of it’s historical safety past record. They might think twice now. Barbados is losing safety record. The authorities must act fast and get these guns off the streets. My son and his family are coming to holiday in Barbados next year and I am concerned for their safety.